England’s incompetence at Euro 2016 was not supposed to wreck Sunderland’s summer.

And yet the Law of Unintended Consequences has decreed that Roy Hodgson’s failure has left Sunderland facing the very real prospect of losing manager Sam Allardyce, less than a month before their new Premier League campaign kicks-off against Manchester City.

If Big Sam is appointed England manager, Sunderland are facing yet another car-crash pre-season - the only difference being that this time it will not be of their own making.

Whereas in the past the finger could be pointed at the ‘supermarket sweep’ approach to transfers taken by director of football Roberto de Fanti in 2013, the tension over transfer policy between Gus Poyet and sporting director Lee Congerton in 2014, the failure to sign the quality players demanded by Dick Advocaat last summer and the crazy pre-season programme which saw them play six games in four countries including three games on the other side of the Atlantic, this time external factors have conspired against the Black Cats.

Trust Sunderland to have the best homegrown candidate for the England manager’s job at the very moment the Football Association have a vacancy to fill!

Allardyce is not to blame for the situation.

He was passed over for the role a decade ago, but has made no secret of the fact that he still covets the top job.

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As an Englishman, who would not want to take on the challenge of managing his country at the World Cup in 2018 and beyond?

But from Sunderland’s point of view, his departure at this stage would be a catastrophe.

At the very moment when all efforts should be concentrated on strengthening the squad and preparing the players for the season ahead, the uncertainty over Allardyce’s future means the club is effectively in a state of paralysis.

The hierarchy do not know whether they should continue their efforts to land Big Sam’s transfer targets, or whether to put everything on hold in case they need to begin the search for a new manager who will no doubt arrive with his own ideas on recruitment.

And it is that dilemma that provides the context for the club’s statement yesterday, which laid bare their frustration at the way in which the FA have handled the situation.

Sunderland confirmed that they had agreed to Allardyce’s request to speak to the FA about the England job, but stressed: ‘Sam is very much key to our plans. After what was an extremely challenging season, we are keen to see a period of stability, both on and off the field, and we want him to remain as manager of our football club.’

And they went on to add: “The ongoing speculation over Sam’s position is extremely damaging to Sunderland AFC, particularly at this crucial time of the season and we urge the FA to respect the disruption that this process is causing and bring about a swift resolution to the matter.”

Sunderland’s chances of holding on to Allardyce appear to be diminishing.

But if the FA intend to offer Allardyce the England role, they should do so without delay and at least give the Black Cats a sporting chance of putting their house in order before the season begins.